Buca: An Italian Classic

Anniversaries call for a bit of a splurge, so indulge in one of the most upscale Italian menus in Toronto at Buca. Keep your eyes peeled for the hidden entrance as you and your sweetheart stroll hand in hand along King Street. Once you enter, you’ll be greeted by stunning vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, and hanging light fixtures that could double as works of modern art. And then there’s the food. Buca’s kitchen harkens back to classic old world Italy, creating culinary masterpieces according to timeless traditions. Start with a heady red wine before moving on to starters like ricci (fresh-shucked Atlantic sea urchin with yogurt and olive oil) or Sicilian dandelion salad with ricotta. Then indulge in some house-made pasta. The hand-cranked duck egg pasta–served with duck offal and Venetian spices–is particularly noteworthy. Adventurous diners can opt for dishes as daring as cervello, or fried lamb brains, but you could also just play it safe and split a plate of spaghetti, Lady and the Tramp style. It might not be as cute as it is in the movie, but the experience at Buca will be just as romantic.